Wire connector



April 22;, mm l o. F. TALLMAN 2,239,258

WIRE CONNECTOR4 Filed June 8, 1940 Arme/viv Patented Apr. 22, 1941UNITED ST TES PATENT 2,239,258 WIRE CONNECTOR Application'June 8, 1940,Serial No. 339,578

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to Wireconnectors of the type employedto mechanicallyr attach telephone and other drop or service wires tohouses. buildings, and other structures, and more specically to a Wireconnector of the general type of the .wire connector covered by UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 2,110,407, issued' on March 8, 1938, thepredominant object of the present invention being to provide a wireconnector of the type that holds a drop or service wire in accordancewith the snubbing principle, instead of through the use of clampingpressure applied to the insulation of the wire, and which is of suchimproved construction and arrangement that the operation of applying awire thereto is simplied.

Wire connectors of the type covered by the United States LettersPatentreferred to above have been widely distributed, and in use haveperformed their intended function in a highly efcient manner. However,in order to simplify, to some degree, the operation of applying a wireto a Wire connector of the general type of the patented wire connector,the wire connector of f the present invention was developed. The mainpoints of difference between the Wire connector of the present inventionand the patented wire connector is that the spirally arranged snubbingportion of the device of the present invention is extended at an angletothe direction of eX- tension of the wire being connected,` instead ofin alinement with such direction of extension of said wire as in thecase of the patented wire connector. It has been found that when thespiral snubbing portion of wire connector is extended at an angle to thedirection of extension of a wire being connected with the aid of thedevice, the operation of applying the wire to the snubbing portion ofthe Wire connector is simplified. Also because of the changedarrangement of the snubbing portion of the device of the presentinvention, when compared with the structure of the patented wireconnector, a different bail structure is employed which, because of itsimproved construction and arrangement, serves to aid in simplifying. theoperation of applying a wire to the Wire connector disclosedl herein.

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the improved wire connector disclosed herein,showing same as it i appears when a wire is connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation `of the wire connector illustrated in Fig.1, the wire associated therewith being shown in cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective looking upwardly to- Ward the under side of theimproved wire connector shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of the bailbeing broken away.

Fig. 4 is a perspective similar to Fig. 3 but showing the complete bailin the displaced position it is caused to assume When a wire is beingapplied to the wire connector.

In the drawing, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved Wireconnector generally. 'Ihe wire connector A includes a Wire-receivingportion I which is formed from a Vstrip or length of metal, or othersuitable material, of channel shaped cross-section. The Wire-receivingportion I includes a straight portion 2 having an outwardly curved outerend portion 3 which eliminates likelihood that the insulation of a wirereceived by the portion 2 of the wire-receiving portion l of the devicewould be cut by the forward edge of said portion 2. The portion of thelength of material from which the wire-receiving portion of the device Ais formed, that extends from the portion 2, is bent in spiral formationto provide the wire-receiving portion I with a spiral snubbing portion4, and it is important'to note that the axis of this spiral snubbingportion is extended at an approximate right angle relative to thedirection of extension of the portion 2 of the wirereceiving portion Iand with respect to a wire received thereby. The length of materialwhich provides the wire-receiving portion I of the device A is shaped toprovide an outstanding arcuate ange 5 through which a pair of apertures6 are formed, said ilange being producedv by parallel, outwardlyextended, and contacting portions of the length of material whichproduces the wirereceiving portion of the device. At the end of thespiral snubbing portion 4 of the wire-receiving portion I of the wireconnector A an integral tongue 1 is provided which, as shown in Fig. 2,is curved so that it partially embraces a Wire associated with'the wireconnector.

The improved Wire connector A includes also a bail 8 which is preferablymade from a single length of wire bent double to provide a closed loopat one end.- This closed loop of the bail is embraced and frictionallyengaged by spiral wire element 9, resemblinga coil spring, which servesas a Wear member. Leg portions of the bail extend forwardly from theclosed loop portion thereof and these leg portions are arranged incrossed over and under relation at a point immediately above the pointwhere the straight portion 2 of the wire-receiving portion of thederearwardly extended portions Ila. and Ilb of' the legs of the bail 8are extended through the apertures 6 formed through the arcuate ilange-5, and the portion Ilb is provided with a laterally bent end portion l2(Fig. 3) which prevents unintended displacement of said portion from theaperture 6 through which it is extended.

When the improved wire connector A is to be applied to a wire W for thepurpose of connecting the Wire to a support, the rearwardly extendedportion lla of a leg of the bail 8 is freed from the aperture 6ofthe-arcuate flange 5 through which it is extended, by moving the bailforwardly relative to the Wire-receiving portion of the device and bymanipulating the leg of the bail of which said portion lla forms a partso as to effect release of said portion Ila from its aperture. The bailis then turned over to one side of the wire-receiving portion of thedevice, the rearwardly extended portion llb of the bail, which isprevented from being displaced from its aperture l` in the arcuateflange 5 by the bent end l2 thereof; serving as a pivot point aboutwhich the bail is turned, as shown-in Fig. 4 and by dotted lines in Fig,2. The wire W is then drawn to the. desired degree of tautness and aportion of the wire is laid in the straight portion 2 of thewire-receiving portion-of the-'devce, and the portion of the wirelocated rearwardly of said wire portion which is disposed in thestraight portion 2' of the wire-receiving L portion l is wound spirallythrough the spiral snubbing portion 4 of the device, aV portion of thewire being introduced behind the curved tongue 1 so as to bepartially-embraced thereby. The bail 81 is thenturned back to its'normal position and the rearwardly extended leg por-Y tion lla isre-introduced into its aperture in the arcuate flange 5. The closed loopat the rear end of the bail is then applied a hook H, or other element,securedto the support Sto which the wire is to be attached. The crossedportions of the legs of the bail 8, being positioned immediately abovethe portion of the wire W that passes from the portion 2 of thewire-receiving portion l to the snu'bbingv portion 4.

thereof, retains the wire in the channel of said wire-receiving portion.Also the tongue 1, because it partiallyA embraces the Wire as shown inFig. 2, serves to aid in retaining the wire in the channel of thewire-receiving. portion l of the Wire connector.

It is obvious that al wire attached to av sup-- port with the aid oftheimproved wire connector disclosed hereinis-verysecurely engaged by thewire connector byl a; snubbing actiongvvhich.y

does not affect the insulationxof theA wireinjuriously. Also it isobviousl that whip and vibration of the wire is taken up by thelooseconnection between the wire connector Aand the hook H, and,therefore,` there isno: centering o.,P Wear due to such whip andvibration of the wire at the tie-in` point of the Wire. As a result ofthis situation, the life of the wire is greatly prolonged inasmuch asthe-wire is notheldbyrthef connector to the tensile strengh of theinsu-- lation, but to the breaking strength of the wire.

Iclaim:

1. A Wire connector comprising a wire-receiving portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinal alinement with reference to the direction of extensionof a wire connected by the wire connector, and provided with a spiralwiresnubbing portion wound about an axis which is extended at an anglewith respect to the direction of extension of said substantiallystraight portion, means extended from said wire-receiving portion at apoint adjacent to said substantially straight portion thereof, and abail normally connected to said means of the wire-receiving portion ofthe connector substantially in longitudinal alinement with respect tothe substantially straight portion thereof, said bail being movable fromits normal position with respect to said Wire-receiving portion to adisplacement position. with relation thereto without complete detachmenttherefrom to permit application of'a. wire to the Wire-receiving portionof the wire connector.

2. A` wire connector comprising a wire-receiving portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinalalinement with reference to the direction of extension ofa Wire connected by the Wire connector, and provided with a spiralwiresnubbing portion Wound about an axis which is extended at an anglewith respect to the direction. of extension of v said substantiallystraight portion, and a bail normally connected to the wire-receivingportion of the connector substantially in longitudinal alinement withrespect to the substantially straight portion thereof, said bail 'beingmovable from its normal position with respect to saidWire-receivingportion to a disk.placed position with relation thereto to permitapplication of a wire to the Wire-receiving portion of the wireconnector, and said bail including leg portions which are crossed at apoint immediately above a portion of said wire-receiving portion toretain a wire in the channel thereof.

3. Awire connector comprisingr a wire-receiving'portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinal alinement with reference to the direction of extensionof a wire connected by the wire connector, and provided with a spiralwiresnubbing portion wound spirally about anaxis which is extended at anangle with respect to the direction of extension of said substantiallystraight portion, `a ange formed on said wirereceiving` portion atapoint adjacent to said substantially straight portion thereof, saidange having apertures formed therein, and a bail havingv legs providedwith bent portions parts of which are extendedv through the apertures ofsaid flangeso as to normally connect said bail to saidWire-receiving.portion in substantial longitudinal alinement `with respect to thesubstantially ystraight portion thereof.

4. Awireconncctor comprising a wire-receivingfporticn of'channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedinv snubbingportion wound spirally about an axis which-issextended atanangle with. respect toA the directionbf extensiomofsaid substantiallystraightportion; a1 flange' formed on said wirereceiving portion at apoint adjacent to said substantially straight portion thereof, saidflange having apertures formed therein, and a bail having legs kprovidedwith bent portions parts of which are extended through the apertures ofsaid flange so as to normally connect said bail to said Wire-receivingportion in substantial longitudinal alinement with respect to thesubstantially straight portion thereof, the part of the bent porl tionof one of the legs of the bail being removable from the aperture of theflange through which it extends to permit the bail to be rotated aboutthe aperture-received part of the bent portion of the other bail leg tomove the bail to a displaced position for application of a Wire to theWire-receiving portion of the wire connector.

5. A wire connector comprising a wire-receiving portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinal alinement with reference to the direction of extensionof a wire connected by the wire connector, and provided with a spiralWiresnubbing portion Wound spirally about an axis which is extended atan angle with respect to the direction of extension of saidsubstantially straight portion, a flange formed on said Wirereceivingportion at a point adjacent to said substantially straight portionthereof, said flange having apertures formed therein, and a bail havinglegs provided with bent portions parts of which are extended through theapertures of said flange so as to normally connect said bail to saidWire-receiving portion in substantial longitudinal alinement Withrespect to the substantially straight portion thereof, the part of thebent portion of one of the legs of the bail being removable from theaperture of the ange through which it extends to permit the bail to berotated about the aperture-received part of the bent portion of theother bail leg to move the bail to a displaced position for applicationof a Wire to the Wire-receiving portion of the Wire connector, and meansfor preventing removal of said aperture-received part of the bentportion of said other bail leg from the aperture of the ange by which itis received.

6. A wire connector comprising a Wire-receiving portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinal valinement with reference to the direction of extensionof a Wire connected by the Wire connector, and provided with a spiralWiresnubbing portion wound spirally about an axis which is extended atan angle With respect to the direction of extension of saidsubstantially straight portion, a flange formed on said Wirereceivingportion at a point adjacent to said substantially straight portionthereof, said flange having apertures formed therein, and a bail havinglegs provided with bent portions parts of which are extended through theapertures of said iiange so as to normally connect said bail to saidWire-receiving portion in substantial longitudinal alinement Withrespect to the substantially straight portion thereof, the part'of thebent portion of one of the legs of the bail being removable from theaperture of the ange through which it extends to permit the bail to berotated about the aperture-received part of the bent portion of theother bail leg to move the bail to a displaced position for applicationof a wire to the wire-receiving portion of the wire connector, and meanscomprising a bent end portion for preventing removal of saidaperturereceived part of the bent portion of said other bail leg fromthe aperture oi the flange by which it is received.

7. A Wire connector comprising a Wire-receiving portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinal alinement with reference to the direction of extensionoi a Wire connected by the Wire connector, and provided With a spiralWiresnubbing portion wound spirally about an axis Which is extended atan angle with respect to the direction of extension of saidsubstantially straight portion, a ilange formed on said Wirereceivingportion at a point adjacent to said substantially straight portionthereof, said ange having apertures formed therein, and a bail havinglegs provided with bent portions parts of which are extended through theapertures of said flange so as to normally connect said bail to saidwire-receiving portion in substantial longitudinal alinement withrespect to the substantially straight portion thereof, the part of thebent portion of one of the legs of the bail being removable from theaperture of the ange through which it extends to permit the bail to berotated about the aperture-received part of the bent portion of theother bail leg to move the bail to a displaced position for applicationof a Wire to the Wire-receiving portion of the Wire connector, said legsof said bail being crossed vat a point immediately above a portion ofsaid Wire-receiving portion to retain a Wire in the channel of saidWire-receiving portion.

8. A Wire connector comprising a wire-receiving portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinal ralinement with reference to the ldirection of extensionof a wire connected by the Wire connector, and provided with a spiralWiresnubbing portion wound spirally about an axis which is extended atan angle with respect to the direction of extension of saidsubstantially straight portion, a flange formed on said wirereceivingportion at a point adjacent to said substantially straight portionthereof, said ange having apertures formed therein, and a bail havinglegs provided With bent portions parts of which are extended through theapertures of said flange so as to normally connect said bail to saidwire-receiving portion in substantial longitudinal alinement withrespect to the substantially straight portion thereof, the part of thebent portion of one of the legs of the bail being removable from theaperture of the flange through which it extends to permit the bail to berotated about the aperture-received part of the bent portion of theother bail leg to move the bail to a displaced position for applicationof a Wire to the wirereceiving portion of the Wire connector, said legsof said bail being crossed at a point immediately above a portion ofsaid Wire-receiving portion to retain a Wire in the channel of saidWire-receiving portion, and means for preventing removal of saidaperture-received part of the bent portion of said other bail leg fromthe aperture of the flange by which it is received.

9. A Wire connector comprising a wire-receiving portion of channelcross-sectional shape having a substantially straight portion disposedin longitudinal alinement with reference to the direction of extensionof a wire connected by the wire connector, and provided with a spiralwiresnubbing portion Wound spirally about an axis which is extended atan angle with respect to the direction of extension of saidsubstantially straight portion, a flange formed on said Wirereceivngportion ata point adjacent tosaid substantially straight portionthereof, saidA flange having apertures formed therein, and a bail havinglegs provide with bent portions parts of Which are extended through theapertures of said flange s0 as to normally connect said bail to'saidwirereoeiving portion in substantial longitudinal alinement With respectto the substantially straight portion thereof, the part of the bentportion of one ofthe legs of the bail being removl able from theaperture of the ange through which it extends to permit the bail to berotated about the aperture-received part of the bent portion-of theother. bail leg to move the bailto aV

